Dome-covered rodent trap

Abstract

A dome-covered rodent trap for capturing rodents. The trap has a base formed of walls and two openings through which rodents may enter. A snap mechanism for trapping rodents is secured to the base. A movable dome also is attached to the base. When the trap is set, the movable dome is maintained in a raised position. However, when the snap mechanism is triggered by a rodent, the movable dome moves downward to cover the base—thereby forming a sealed container around a captured rodent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rodent trap, comprising:
 a base member comprising a base plate and an outer wall segment extending upwardly from the base plate; 
 a dome member having a roof plate comprising an upper surface, an underside surface and an annular edge extending downward from the roof plate, the annular edge having an inner surface and an outer surface, the roof plate further comprising a cutout; 
 the dome member being movably attached to the base member such that the dome member is movable in an upward direction to assume a raised position and is movable in a downward direction to assume a lowered position; 
 a snap mechanism mounted to the base member, the snap mechanism comprising a jaw having a first end and a second end, the jaw being configured to assume a first position and a second position, whereby in the first position the first end of the jaw is raised with respect to the second end of the jaw and whereby in the second position the first end of the jaw is lowered with respect to the second end of the jaw; 
 a trigger plate configured to maintain the jaw in the first position, the trigger plate triggerable by a rodent to cause the jaw to move into the second position; 
 wherein when the jaw is in the first position, the dome member rests on the first end of the jaw and the second end of the jaw is positioned below the underside surface of the roof plate and surrounded by the inner surface of the annular edge, whereby the jaw is configured to move into the second position to snap down on the rodent and to also cause the dome member to be moved into the lowered position, wherein in the lowered position the second end of the jaw protrudes through the cutout in the roof plate such that a terminal end of the second end of the jaw is positioned above the upper surface of the roof plate and whereby in the second position, the inner surface of the annular edge of the dome member surrounds the outer wall segment of the base member. 
 
     
     
       2. The rodent trap of  claim 1 , wherein the base member has a first guide wall and a second guide wall, and wherein the dome member has a first guide wall and a second guide wall. 
     
     
       3. The rodent trap of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second guide walls of the base member contact the first and second guide walls of the dome member. 
     
     
       4. The rodent trap of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall segment is a rounded wall having a first end and second end. 
     
     
       5. The rodent trap of  claim 4 , wherein the base member further comprises a flat wall extending upwardly from the base plate. 
     
     
       6. The rodent trap of  claim 5 , further comprising an ingress opening comprising a space between the first end of the rounded wall and the flat wall. 
     
     
       7. The rodent trap of  claim 6 , further comprising a second ingress opening comprising a space between the second end of the rounded wall and the flat wall. 
     
     
       8. The rodent trap of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the jaw contacts a wheel disposed on the underside surface of the dome member. 
     
     
       9. A rodent trap, comprising:
 a base member comprising a base plate and an outer wall segment extending upwardly from the base plate; 
 a dome member having a roof plate comprising an upper surface, an underside surface and an annular edge extending downward from the roof plate, the annular edge having an inner surface and an outer surface; 
 the dome member being movably attached to the base member such that the dome member is movable in an upward direction to assume a raised position and is movable in a downward direction to assume a lowered position; 
 a snap mechanism mounted to the base member, the snap mechanism comprising a jaw having a first end and a second end, the jaw being configured to assume a first position and a second position, whereby in the first position the first end of the jaw is raised with respect to the second end of the jaw and whereby in the second position the first end of the jaw is lowered with respect to the second end of the jaw; 
 a trigger plate configured to maintain the jaw in the first position, the trigger plate triggerable by a rodent to cause the jaw to move into the second position; 
 wherein when the jaw is in the first position, the dome member rests on the first end of the jaw, wherein the first end of the jaw contacts a wheel disposed on the underside surface of the dome member, whereby the jaw is configured to move into the second position to snap down on the rodent and to also cause the dome member to be moved into the lowered position, wherein in the lowered position the inner surface of the annular edge of the dome member surrounds the outer wall segment of the base member.